Norfolk Southern Sunday Local Extra
Early Sunday afternoon, I found a Norfolk Southern freight train in the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard readying for departure back to Good Yard in Normal. The Komatsu truck chassis and four Caterpillar tractor loads were a nice treat!
Komatsu loads have appear regularly on weekday local (D49) in recent weeks. I saw three on July 2's train, and two on July 9. Notably absent are Caterpillar tractor loads. Norfolk Southern handles these out of East Peoria on occasion, but I rarely catch them.
Until Sunday, July 12. Extra local D47 had four loads - three D11s and a D9. This traffic is for export via three ports - Baltimore, MD (Dundalk Marine Terminal), Portsmouth, VA (Portsmouth Marine Terminal) and Savannah, GA (Ocean Terminal - Georgia Ports Authority).
As states reopen and economic activity returns, truck rates have risen. So it is logical to assume that Caterpillar has begun to shift some export shipments back to rail. Increased orders are also a likely factor in Sunday's action.
Komatsu loads have appear regularly on weekday local (D49) in recent weeks. I saw three on July 2's train, and two on July 9. Notably absent are Caterpillar tractor loads. Norfolk Southern handles these out of East Peoria on occasion, but I rarely catch them.
Until Sunday, July 12. Extra local D47 had four loads - three D11s and a D9. This traffic is for export via three ports - Baltimore, MD (Dundalk Marine Terminal), Portsmouth, VA (Portsmouth Marine Terminal) and Savannah, GA (Ocean Terminal - Georgia Ports Authority).
As states reopen and economic activity returns, truck rates have risen. So it is logical to assume that Caterpillar has begun to shift some export shipments back to rail. Increased orders are also a likely factor in Sunday's action.
- David P. Jordan
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